APII: Respiratory Practice Questions

Which of the following anatomical structures is not part of the conducting zone?

a) pharynx
b) nasal cavity
c) alveoli
d) bronch

C

What is the function of the conchae in the nasal cavity?

a) increase surface area
b) exchange gases
c) maintain surface tension
d) maintain air pressure

A

Which of the following are structural features of the trachea?

a) c-shaped cartilage
b) smooth muscle fibers
c) cilia
d) all of the above

A

Which of the following is not part of the bronchiole tree?

a) alveoli
b) bronchi
c) terminal bronchioles
d) respiratory bronchioles

A

1) The main site of gas exchange is the ________.
A) alveolar sacs
B) alveoli
C) alveolar duct
D) respiratory bronchiole

B

What is the role of the alveolar macrophages?

a) to secrete pulmonary surfactant
b) to secrete antimicrobial proteins
c) to remove pathogens and debris
d) to facilitate gas exchange

C

T/F The functions of the nasal conchae are to enhance the air turbulence in the cavity and to increase the mucosal surface area exposed to air for greater efficiency.

T

T/F The paired lungs occupy the mediastinum of the thoracic cavity.

F

T/F Smoking diminishes ciliary action and eventually destroys the cilia.

T

T/F The parietal pleura lines the thoracic wall.

T

The loudness of a person's voice depends on the ________.

A) thickness of vestibular folds
B) length of the vocal folds
C) strength of the intrinsic laryngeal muscles
D) force with which air rushes across the vocal folds

D

Which of the following refers to the movement of air into and out of the lungs?

A) pulmonary ventilation
B) gas exchange
C) internal respiration
D) external respiration

A

Respiratory control centers are located in the ________.

A) midbrain and medulla
B) medulla and pons
C) pons and midbrain
D) upper spinal cord and medulla

B

the left lung has ________.

A) a cardiac notch
B) an oblique fissure
C) three lobes
D) a wider and more vertical primary bronchus

A

The larynx contains ________.

A) the thyroid cartilage
B) a cricoid cartilage also called the Adam's apple
C) an upper pair of avascular mucosal folds called true vocal folds
D) lateral cartilage ridges called false vocal folds

A

Which respiratory-associated muscles would contract or relax during forced expiration, for example blowing up a balloon?

A) diaphragm would contract, external intercostals would relax
B) internal intercostals and abdominal muscles would contract
C) external intercostals would contract and diaphragm would relax
D) diaphragm would contract, internal intercostals would relax

B

Which of the choices below is NOT a role of the pleurae?

A) allow the lungs to glide easily over the thorax wall during breathing movements
B) help divide the thoracic cavity into three chambers
C) help limit the spread of local infections
D) assist in blood flow to and from the heart because the heart sits between the lungs

D

The nose serves all of the following functions EXCEPT ________.

A) as a passageway for air movement
B) as the direct initiator of the cough reflex
C) warming and humidifying the air
D) cleansing the air

B

Most inspired particles such as dust fail to reach the lungs because of the ________.

A) ciliated mucous lining in the nose
B) abundant blood supply to nasal mucosa
C) porous structure of turbinate bones
D) action of the epiglottis

A

Which of the following is a conducting zone structure?

A) alveolar duct
B) terminal bronchiole
C) alveolar sac
D) respiratory bronchiole

B

The walls of the alveoli are composed of two types of cells, type I and type II. The function of type II is to ________.
A) secrete surfactant
B) trap dust and other debris
C) replace mucus in the alveoli
D) protect the lungs from bacterial invasion

A

Complete the following statement using the choices below. Air moves out of the lungs when the pressure inside the lungs is ________.
A) less than the pressure in the atmosphere
B) greater than the pressure in the atmosphere
C) equal to the pressure in the atmosphere
D) greater than the intra-alveolar pressure

B

Unlike inspiration, expiration is a passive act because no muscular contractions are involved. Expiration, however, depends on two factors. Which of the choices below lists those two factors?

A) the recoil of elastic fibers that were stretched during inspiration and the inward pull of surface tension due to the film of alveolar fluid
B) the expansion of respiratory muscles that were contracted during inspiration and the lack of surface tension on the alveolar wall
C) the negative feedback of expansion fibers used during inspiration and the outward pull of surface tension due to surfactant
D) combined amount of CO2 in the blood and air in the alveoli

A

Which of the following maintains the patency (openness) of the trachea?
A) surface tension of water
B) surfactant production
C) C-shaped cartilage rings
D) pseudostratified ciliated epithelium

C

Intrapulmonary pressure is the ________.
A) pressure within the pleural cavity
B) pressure within the alveoli of the lungs
C) negative pressure in the intrapleural space
D) difference between atmospheric pressure and respiratory pressure

B

The relationship between gas pressure and gas volume is described by ________.
A) Boyle's law
B) Henry's law
C) Charles' law
D) Dalton's law

A

The statement, "in a mixture of gases, the total pressure is the sum of the individual partial pressures of gases in the mixture" paraphrases ________.
A) Henry's law
B) Boyle's law
C) Dalton's law
D) Charles' law

C

Surfactant helps to prevent the alveoli from collapsing by ________.
A) humidifying the air before it enters
B) warming the air before it enters
C) interfering with the cohesiveness of water molecules, thereby reducing the surface tension of alveolar fluid
D) protecting the surface of alveoli from dehydration and other environmental variations

C

For gas exchange to be efficient, the respiratory membrane must be ________.
A) at least 3 micrometers thick
B) 0.5 to 1 micrometer thick
C) between 5 and 6 micrometers thick
D) The thickness of the respiratory membrane is not important in the efficiency of gas exchange.

B

The most powerful respiratory stimulus for breathing in a healthy person is ________.
A) loss of oxygen in tissues
B) increase of carbon dioxide
C) acidosis
D) alkalosis

B

The local matching of blood flow with ventilation is ________.
A) the Bohr effect
B) the Haldane effect
C) chloride shifting
D) ventilation-perfusion coupling

D

In the plasma, the quantity of oxygen in solution is ________.
A) only about 1.5% of the oxygen carried in blood
B) about equal to the oxygen combined with hemoglobin
C) greater than the oxygen combined with hemoglobin
D) not present except where it is combined with carrier molecules

A

Which of the following statements is incorrect?
A) During fetal life, lungs are filled with fluid.
B) Respiratory rate is lowest in newborn infants.
C) Descent of the diaphragm results in abdominal breathing.
D) The chest wall becomes more rigid with age.

B

Which of the choices below describes the forces that act to pull the lungs away from the thorax wall and thus collapse the lungs?
A) the natural tendency for the lungs to recoil and the surface tension of the alveolar fluid
B) compliance and transpulmonary pressures
C) the natural tendency for the lungs to recoil and transpulmonary pressures
D) compliance and the surface tension of the alveolar fluid

A

Which of the following counteracts the movement of bicarbonate ions from the RBC?
A) the Bohr effect
B) the Haldane effect
C) chloride shifting
D) release of hydrogen ion

C

Which of the following is not an event necessary to supply the body with O2 and dispose of CO2?
A) pulmonary ventilation
B) blood pH adjustment
C) internal respiration
D) external respiration

B

The major nonelastic source of resistance to air flow in the respiratory passageways is ________.
A) surfactant
B) surface tension
C) friction
D) air pressure

C

Which of the following determines lung compliance?
A) airway opening
B) flexibility of the thoracic cage
C) muscles of inspiration
D) alveolar surface tension

D

Tidal volume is air ________.
A) remaining in the lungs after forced expiration
B) exchanged during normal breathing
C) inhaled after normal inspiration
D) forcibly expelled after normal expiration

B

Which of the choices below determines the direction of respiratory gas movement?
A) solubility in water
B) partial pressure gradient
C) the temperature
D) molecular weight and size of the gas molecule

B

Possible causes of hypoxia include ________.
A) too little oxygen in the atmosphere
B) obstruction of the esophagus
C) taking several rapid deep breaths
D) getting very cold

A

The lung volume that represents the total volume of exchangeable air is the ________.
A) tidal volume
B) vital capacity
C) inspiratory capacity
D) expiratory reserve volume

B

Which of the following is not a stimulus for breathing?
A) rising carbon dioxide levels
B) rising blood pressure
C) arterial Po2 below 60 mm Hg
D) acidosis resulting from CO2 retention

B

The amount of air that can be inspired above the tidal volume is called ________.
A) reserve air
B) expiratory capacity
C) inspiratory reserve
D) vital capacity

C

Which statement about CO2 is incorrect?
A) Its concentration in the blood is decreased by hyperventilation.
B) Its accumulation in the blood is associated with a decrease in pH.
C) More CO2 dissolves in the blood plasma than is carried in the RBCs.
D) CO2 concentrations are greater in venous blood than arterial blood.

C

Oxygen and carbon dioxide are exchanged in the lungs and through all cell membranes by ________.
A) osmosis
B) diffusion
C) filtration
D) active transport

B

Select the correct statement about the pharynx.
A) The pharyngeal tonsil is located in the laryngopharynx.
B) The auditory tube drains into the nasopharynx.
C) The laryngopharynx blends posteriorly into the nasopharynx.
D) The palatine tonsils are embedded in the lateral walls of the nasopharynx.

B

How is the bulk of carbon dioxide carried in blood?
A) chemically combined with the amino acids of hemoglobin as carbaminohemoglobin in the red blood cells
B) as the bicarbonate ion in the plasma after first entering the red blood cells
C) as carbonic acid in the plasma
D) chemically combined with the heme portion of hemoglobin

B

Which of the following incorrectly describes mechanisms of CO2 transport?
A) 7-10% of CO2 is dissolved directly into the plasma
B) 20% of CO2 is carried in the form of carbaminohemoglobin
C) as bicarbonate ion in plasma
D) attached to the heme part of hemoglobin

D

Factors that influence the rate and depth of breathing include ________.
A) thalamic control
B) voluntary cortical control
C) stretch receptors in the alveoli
D) temperature of alveolar air

B

The respiratory membrane is a combination of ________.
A) respiratory bronchioles and alveolar ducts
B) alveolar and capillary walls and their fused basement membranes
C) atria and alveolar sacs
D) respiratory bronchioles and alveolar sacs

B

Inspiratory capacity is ________.
A) the total amount of air that can be inspired after a tidal expiration
B) the total amount of exchangeable air
C) functional residual capacity
D) air inspired after a tidal inhalation

A

Select the correct statement about the neural mechanisms of respiratory control.
A) The pons is thought to be instrumental in the smooth transition from inspiration to expiration.
B) The dorsal respiratory group neurons depolarize in a rhythmic way to establish the pattern of breathing.
C) The pontine respirator group (PRG) continuously stimulates the medulla to provide inspiratory drive.
D) The ventral respiratory group is contained within the pons.

A

Which of the choices below is not a factor that promotes oxygen binding to and dissociation from hemoglobin?
A) partial pressure of oxygen
B) temperature
C) partial pressure of carbon dioxide
D) number of red blood cells

D

The factors responsible for holding the lungs to the thorax wall are ________.
A) the smooth muscles of the lung
B) the diaphragm and the intercostal muscles alone
C) the visceral pleurae and the changing volume of the lungs
D) surface tension from pleural fluid and negative pressure in the pleural cavity

D

The erythrocyte count increases after a while when an individual goes from a low to a high altitude because the ________.
A) temperature is lower at higher altitudes
B) basal metabolic rate is higher at high altitudes
C) concentration of oxygen and/or total atmospheric pressure is higher at higher altitudes
D) concentration of oxygen and/or total atmospheric pressure is lower at high altitudes

D

Most inspired particles such as dust fail to reach the lungs because of the ________.
A) ciliated mucous lining in the nose
B) abundant blood supply to nasal mucosa
C) porous structure of turbinate bones
D) action of the epiglottis

A

Which of the following is not possible?
A) Gas flow equals pressure gradient over resistance.
B) Pressure gradient equals gas flow over resistance.
C) Resistance equals pressure gradient over gas flow.
D) The amount of gas flowing in and out of the alveoli is directly proportional to the difference in pressure or pressure gradient between the external atmosphere and the alveoli.

B

Select the correct statement about the physical factors influencing pulmonary ventilation.
A) A decrease in compliance causes an increase in ventilation.
B) A lung that is less elastic will require less muscle action to perform adequate ventilation.
C) As alveolar surface tension increases, additional muscle action will be required.
D) Surfactant helps increase alveolar surface tension.

C

Select the correct statement about oxygen transport in blood.

A) During normal activity, a molecule of hemoglobin returning to the lungs carries one molecule of O2.
B) During conditions of acidosis, hemoglobin is able to carry oxygen more efficiently.
C) Increased BPG levels in the red blood cells enhance oxygen-carrying capacity.
D) A 50% oxygen saturation level of blood returning to the lungs might indicate an activity level higher than normal.

D

Which of the disorders below is characterized by destruction of the walls of the alveoli producing abnormally large air spaces that remain filled with air during exhalation?
A) pneumonia
B) tuberculosis
C) emphysema
D) coryza

C

Which of the following does not influence hemoglobin saturation?
A) temperature
B) BPG
C) carbon dioxide
D) nitric oxide

D

During exercise, which of the following directly increases respiratory rate?
A. Increased H+
level in the blood
B. The Bohr effect
C. Reduced blood pH
D. Reduced oxyhemoglobin
E. Anticipation of the needs of exercising muscle

E

Which of the following would slow down gas exchange between the blood and alveolar air?
A. An increase in membrane thickness
B. An increase in alveolar surface area
C. An increase in respiratory rate
D. A decrease in membrane thickness
E. A decrease in nitrogen solubility

A

The addition of CO2 to the blood generates _________ ions in the RBCs, which in turn stimulates
RBCs to unload more oxygen.
A. sodium
B. potassium
C. nitrogen
D. hydrogen
E. chloride

D

In the air we breathe, which gas is found in the highest concentration?
A. Oxygen
B. Water vapor
C. Nitrogen
D. Carbon dioxide
E. Hydrogen

C

Each hemoglobin molecule can transport up to _____ oxygen molecules.
A. 6
B. 2
C. 3
D. 4
E. 5

D

Normally, the systemic arterial blood has a PO2 of ______ mm Hg, a PCO2 of _____ mm Hg, and a pH of ______ .
A. 40; 95; 7.4
B. 95; 40; 7.4
C. 7.4; 40;95
D. 95; 7.4; 40
E. 40; 7.4; 95

B

Which of the following enzymes in an RBC breaks H2CO3 down to water and carbon dioxide?
A. Hemoglobinase
B. Carboxyhemoglobinase
C. Carbonic anhydrase
D. Bisphosphoglycerase
E. Carbaminoreductase

C

Which of the following is a lung disease marked by a reduced number of cilia, reduced motility ofthe
remaining cilia, goblet cell hypertrophy and hypersecretion, and thick sputum?
A. Asthma
B. Oat-cell carcinoma
C. Atelectasis
D. Chronic bronchitis
E. Emphysema

D

Which of the following is a lung disease marked by abnormally few but large alveoli?
A. Cor pulmonale
B. Pulmonary hemosiderosis
C. Emphysema
D. Atelectasis
E. Collapsed lung

C

Mucus plays an important role in cleansing inhaled air. It is produced by _________ of the respiratory tract.
A. squamous alveolar cells
B. great alveolar cells
C. the pleurae
D. ciliated cells
E. goblet cells

E

The blood transports more CO2 in the form of _________ than in any other form.
A. carbaminohemoglobin
B. carboxyhemoglobin
C. bicarbonate ions
D. dissolved CO2 gas
E. bisphosphocarbonate

C

The pH of the cerebrospinal fluid is monitored by which of these brainstem centers?
A. PRG
B. Hypothalamic osmoreceptors
C. Medullary baroreceptors
D. Central chemoreceptors

D

If one inspires through their nose, which of the following answers has the correct order of structures the air would move through?

A. Nares → Vestibule → Nasal Cavity → Nasopharynx → Oropharynx → Laryngopharynx → Larynx → Trachea → Primary Bronchus → Secondary Bronchus → Tertiary Bronchus → Bronchiole →
Terminal Bronchiole → Respiratory Bronchiole → Alveolar Duct → Alveolar Sac → Alveolus

B. Nares → Nasal Cavity → Vestibule → Nasopharynx → Oropharynx → Laryngopharynx → Larynx → Trachea → Primary Bronchus → Secondary Bronchus → Tertiary Bronchus → Bronchiole → Terminal Bronchiole → Respiratory Bronchiole → Alveolar Duct → Alveolar Sac → Alveolus

C. Nares → Vestibule → Nasal Cavity → Nasopharynx → Oropharynx → Laryngopharynx →Larynx → Trachea → Bronchiole → Respiratory Bronchiole → Terminal Bronchiole → PrimaryBronchus → Secondary Bronchus → Tertiary Bronchus → Alveolar Duct → Alveolar Sac → Alveolus

D. Nares → Nasal Cavity → Vestibule → Nasopharynx → Oropharynx → Laryngopharynx → Larynx → Trachea → Primary Bronchus → Secondary Bronchus → Tertiary Bronchus → Bronchiole → Respiratory Bronchiole → Terminal Bronchiole → Alveolar Duct → Alveolar Sac → Alveolus

A

Hypocapnia will lead to which of the following conditions?
A. Hypoventilation due to acidosis
B. Hypoventilation due to alkalosis
C. Hyperventilation due to acidosis
D. Hyperventilation due to alkalosis

B